Published: 22/02/2010 16:04 -
Updated: 24/02/2010 11:41
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KEZIA Obama – the stepmother of US President Barack – was in Harlow on Saturday (February 20) to celebrate the launch of new charity The Disability Empowerment Association.
The brainchild of Harlow-based paralympian Anne Wafula Strike, the organisation has been set up to empower disabled people and help them achieve their goals through classes in art, dance, creative writing, IT skills and sport.
"The aim is to show that disability does not mean inability," said Anne. "We want people who are disabled to achieve their goals and at the same time become more integrated into the community.
"If they can play just one note on one instrument then that’s an achievement and they can gain confidence from it."
The charity will initially just cover Essex, but Anne has plans to expand the project to cover the whole country and even organise an exchange programme between the UK and African countries.
Mrs Obama was invited to become a patron by Anne to help facilitate this as both of them are Kenyan by origin.
Visitors attending the launch event at Passmores School on Tendring Road were treated to a packed programme of dance, music and fashion, kicking off with a traditional Indian dance performed by Footworks School of Dance.
Talented youngsters from Makin' Steps dance school, inclusive dance group Dance 21 and the Efua Sey Dae Academy all put on dazzling displays of their own, while live music was provided by local saxophonist Adam Amor, musician Noah Keya and DJ Lopo T.
Anne added: "The day was fantastic - there were some performances that really moved everyone watching."
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